Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. As he is aware, Cavan had a proud Army tradition over the years. Generations of families joined and were proud to serve our country at home and abroad. I am sure Deputy Berry and others in the House would agree with me that there was always greater recruitment in areas where there were substantial Army barracks, such as in Cavan, Kildare and other noteworthy places. Again, therefore, I appeal for the needs of the Border region to be considered in the context of the possibility of having Dún Uí Néill barracks reopened.

In Lebanon recently, the Minister met members of the Defence Forces from my county of Cavan and they spoke to him about their family connections. He knew some of those families as well. I do not think, therefore, that we should ever underestimate the continuity in family tradition and recruitment in areas where there has been a substantial Army presence over the years.

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